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Blueberry Commons Farm Cooperative in Powell River, BC is seeking Farm Hands!
ABOUT Blueberry Commons Farm Cooperative
Blueberry Commons is located in Tla’amin territory in the semi-rural neighbourhood of Wildwood in Powell River, BC. We are on 16 acres of beautiful land with a mix of forest, field and meadow where we abut extensive coastal Douglas-fir forest. We have two acres of vegetable production (with over 40 different crops), an acre of blueberries, many fruit trees, other berries and more being introduced, a developing willow hedge, herb and food forest garden, and two – soon to be three – greenhouses. We have a few workhorses: small kubota tractor with bucket and a few different attachments (flail mower), a walk-behind tractor for low-till bed preparation, but otherwise most of our machinery /tools are battery powered, or hand operated. We market our produce through farm stand sales (rebuilt last year), farmer’s markets (at the height we’re going to 3 weekly markets including to Savary Island), U-Pick events, direct sales to local retailers and this year we are excited to be part of a weekly collaborative food box pilot program.
We are Certified Organic and are going into our seventh year of operation. In addition to the farm, last September the development of the cohousing project was completed and seven households are now living in a focused area on the property. One of the cohousing community’s missions is to preserve and develop the agricultural potential of the land as a means of providing food security for the cooperative and wider community. The members of the community affirm and practice core values, including: Inclusivity and diversity; Trust and respect with each other and the wider community; Lifelong learning, education and mentorship; Responsibility, fairness and cooperation; Participation, commitment and service; Nurturing, protecting and being good stewards of the ecosystem – fostering a resilient, adaptive way of living and using local resources. Both the Farm Operations Manager and Assistant are community members and have combined experiences as permaculture practitioners and teachers, in regenerative agriculture, homesteading, landscaping and gardening, and ecological systems design.
DESIRED QUALITIES
We are looking for candidates who are physically resilient, dependable, and genuinely interested in learning small-scale organic farming. Farm work is demanding and repetitive at times, so consistency, focus, and a willingness to work through all kinds of weather are important.
The ideal candidate:
- is able to work independently when needed,
- can collaborate well with others,
- take pride in doing tasks thoroughly.
- has an authentic interest in organic agriculture and local food systems matters to us — we value people who see this as meaningful work and want to contribute to something lasting.
Because this role includes customer interaction and supporting volunteers, clear communication and emotional maturity are essential. We are especially excited about candidates who take initiative, care about quality, and are committed to showing up fully for the season of their contract.
POSITION TASKS
The Blueberry Commons Farm Hands work under the direction of the Farm Operations Manager (FOM) and Assistant FOM to meet the vision and production goals of Blueberry Commons. These are outdoor laboring positions involved directly with field production. Farm Hands must be physically fit, able to lift 50lbs and capable of working outdoors in all weather, and come dressed appropriately.
Tasks & responsibilities include:
- Assisting with production bed development and preparation including clearing debris from growing beds, moving tarps, spreading soil amendments, tilling beds;
- Planting a range of crops from seed and plant starts;
- Regular (daily) weeding of production beds;
- Using motorized farm equipment after being trained while following all related safety procedures;
- Cleaning tools and equipment after use, maintaining and supporting an organized and clean work environment;
- Undertaking harvesting activities in vegetable beds, blueberry plantation and from fruit trees & berries;
- Cleaning and packing produce for storage and delivery to customers;
- Supporting and teaching farm volunteers and students in their activities;
- Farm stand stocking up, tidying and serving customers;
- Preparing for and staffing occasional farmer’s markets including loading the truck, set-up, sales, cash-out, record keeping and unloading (this requires the ability to drive or learn a manual shift vehicle);
- Assisting with special u-pick and other events, and programs for school students on the farm;
- Assisting with infrastructure development and special projects on the farm.
POSITION DETAILS
Term: The work is seasonal; up to two positions are available, start and end dates will be: 1) early April to early October; 2) early May to the end of August. The position will include a three-week probationary period.
Hours per week: 30-35 hours unless otherwise stipulated in the employment contract. The working hours may include weekends and holidays. Exact work schedule will be determined based on the farm needs, seasonal pressure points. Employee preferences will be considered as much as operationally possible.
Wage: 18.00/hour to $22.00/hour depending on work experience plus Mandatory Employment Related Cost (MERC) which includes: Workers Compensation, CPP and EI as well as Vacation pay.
The Employment Standards Act of BC applies including the exemptions of this Act applying to Farm Workers.
Farm hands will have access to an abundance of “seconds” produce, and other produce at a reduced cost.
Accommodation on the farm may be possible in a small trailer for a modest cost per month. Assistance finding other accommodation will be offered where possible.
TO APPLY
Please send a resume and a brief statement of your interest and your experience as it relates to our farm operations, values, values and any of the the criteria to farm@blueberrycommons.ca
We welcome applications from all interested parties including indigenous youth, youth of colour and those with other barriers to employment.
Deadline to apply: March 13
When applying, please mention you saw this posting at youngagrarians.org
Please note that Young Agrarians does not have the capacity to pre-screen job opportunities. Please screen your potential employer to ensure that you are entering into a fair exchange that meets your needs and expectations. Try asking the farm for references of past workers, or ask people in the community if you are unsure.
LEARN MORE ABOUT Blueberry Commons Farm Cooperative
Website: https://www.blueberrycommons.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueberrycommons/
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